Using technology intelligently: the decennial information age

In an effort to reduce the problem of undercounting and, in general, to deliver as complete a census as possible, the Bureau has incorporated several technological advances for Census 2000. As a result, a significant portion of the costs are those associated with the use of technology. However, the Bureau is convinced these costs will be well worth it in terms of the operations that will be made more efficient and effective as a result of the technological advances. To accomplish the goals set forth in the Bureau’s operational plan, the Bureau is always looking at ways in which it can improve the speed and quality of the census and yet limit the number of manual, repetitive, human resource-intensive operations. In addition, these technological advances are focused on reducing the differential undercount for Census 2000. This article addresses some of the technological strategies the Census Bureau, hereinafter referred to as “the Bureau,” will be incorporating in the data collection processing and tabulating operations for Census 2000. Given the time and presentation limitations of this article, not every advance in technology is addressed. However, this article addresses seven major program or system areas that will be significantly affected by the implementation of advanced technology. The seven areas highlighted are: • Data Capture System 2000; m• Internet Data Collection/Internet Questionnaire Assistance; m• Telephone Questionnaire Assistance; • Coverage Edit Follow-Up; m• Data Access and Dissemination; m• American Factfinder; and m• Data Products Production.     

Native Americans and the U.S. Census: A brief historical survey

This article traces the history of the enumeration of American Indians by the U.S. Census Bureau and its predecessors. It considers the social and political background of the census and the reasons that Native Americans were not counted by the census until 1890. It also examines the changes in the enumeration and definition of Native Americans—key concepts needed to provide effective reference service for users of Census Bureau data.     

State Data Centers: improving access to census information

"The U.S. Bureau of the Census created the State Data Center program in 1978 to improve public access to census information. This article discusses the background, structure, and services of that program; the role of libraries in the program; and future directions in State Data Center/library relationships. The appendix lists contact person names, as well as addresses and telephone numbers for State Data Center lead agencies."     

Providing access to the 1990 U.S. census maps.

"The U.S. Bureau of the Census has published on CD-ROM format data for the smallest geographic reporting levels....Providing access to the maps that define the reporting areas used by the Bureau within a county is one aspect of service that is unique to census files STF1A, STF1B, and STF3A. The paper illustrates the way these reporting levels are defined in the Tract/BNA Maps and Block Maps. The steps taken by one library to develop a link between a geographic area of interest to a patron and the areas defined on these maps are described. These steps include preserving and housing the maps in a way that makes them easy to use and preparing an index to the information contained on the maps using dBASE registered trademark software and information taken from STF1A using Extract software."     

温哥华公共图书馆网站的建设与启示

温哥华图书馆是加拿大第三大公共图书馆系统,它具有22个分支机构,温哥华公共图书馆一直将其网站（www.vpl.ca）视为第23个分馆。经过重新设计的温哥华公共图书馆网站,其界面简洁、易于使用,网站设计使用Web2.0工具,用户能够与图书馆工作人员以及其他用户进行交互,并提供个性化的机会,访问该网站用户能接收到高质量的服务。     

温哥华公共图书馆网站的建设与启示

温哥华图书馆是加拿大第三大公共图书馆系统,它具有22个分支机构,温哥华公共图书馆一直将其网站(www.vpl.ca)视为第23个分馆。经过重新设计的温哥华公共图书馆网站,其界面简洁、易于使用,网站设计使用Web2.0工具,用户能够与图书馆工作人员以及其他用户进行交互,并提供个性化的机会,访问该网站用户能接收到高质量的服务。     

BEA数字图书馆：洞悉美国经济的窗口

BEA（Bureau of Economy Analysis,美国国家经济分析局）在线图书馆建立于2006年,服务于美国从事经济数据统计工作的政府机构,同时面向社会公众提供免费的包括宏观和微观层面几乎所有经济活动的指标数据。其主要目的是发布美国历史及当前最新经济统计资料和评估调查报告,为不同的用户群体了解、研究美国经济提供良好的服务平台,包括搜索、浏览及下载服务。其资源涵盖范围广泛,有很高的科研及实际参考意义。文章从其数字资源、技术特征、服务特点等方面进行了概要的评述,并给出作者的评价和建议。     

The American Community Survey: An introduction to the basics

The Bureau of the Census initiated the American Community Survey (ACS) in 2005. It will revolutionize the use of census data by providing annual updates to statistics that in the past were collected only every 10 years. Statistics will be published for areas of 65,000 people or more every year. The Bureau of the Census will distribute data for areas of between 20,000 and 64,999 in "3-year period averages." The first 3 year average will appear in 2008 covering 2005–2007. Subsequent data will be issued annually for the following three year periods. (e.g., 2006–2008, 2007–2009) Statistics for areas smaller than 19,999 will be published in 5-year period averages, the first to be published in 2010 covering 2005–2009. Subsequent data to be issued annually will cover 2006–2010, 2007–20011, … This paper provides background information about ACS, similarities and differences between it and the decennial census, the interpretation of statistics based upon period averages, relationships among ACS and other Bureau of the Census Surveys, and the expected future of the survey.     

Striving for perfection: a brief history of advances and undercounts in the U.S. Census

This article reports the results of research and analysis undertaken by Census Bureau staff. It has undergone a more limited review than official Census Bureau publications.     

Plans and issues facing the 1990 decennial census

Planning for the 1990 census has been underway for some time and many important decisions must be made in the near future. In making these decisions, the Census Bureau will be guided by six criteria or goals, which are described in this article. The article also discusses current Census Bureau thinking in several specific areas: (1) automation, which is the key to completing the census in a timely manner; (2) basic methodology, which will likely be—possibly with modifications—the mail-out/mailback method used in the 1980 census; and (3) content, where the Census Bureau's challenge is to balance the needs for data against the need to keep questionnaire length reasonable. Other issues discussed are personnel management, outreach and publicity, and adjustment and coverage improvement. The article also describes the process the Census Bureau is using to get ideas to plan the census.     

Perceptions of Public Library Accessibility for People with Disabilities

More than 5,000 households with a person identified as having a physical, mental, or emotional condition that impairs participation in activities were surveyed about their opinions concerning barriers to public library use and opinions about efforts by public libraries to be useful to people with disabilities. Results showed that perceptions of accessibility, collections, and presence of assistive or adaptive devices for people with disabilities were slightly more positive if someone in the household had used the public library in the past year. Data used for the study were from the October 2002 Current Population Survey, a federal survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.     

Modern impressions: Getting to know your library website users

Academic library websites need to support a variety of users (student, faculty, staff, administrator, alumni, etc.) with intellectual pursuits related to research, teaching, and learning, in addition to being user-friendly, valuable and informative. Although the CUNY Queens College Library (QCL) website has been redesigned multiple times, there has not been a formal user research study of the website and its users to inform the redesign. Taking a user-centered approach, specifically the user-centered design (UCD) methodology, this study explores users of an urban academic library website in the United States through the use of triangulation, a mixed-methods approach that includes user survey, user interviews, and website analysis. The findings reveal that the majority of users like the QCL website and find the content valuable for teaching and research, but users also thought the website design was dated (not a modern design), some of the content was inconsistent, and access of all types emerged as a major theme. The results provide recommendations for the library website redesign and are important in helping librarians of similar libraries use triangulation of data to gain a multidimensional understanding of their users in order to inform the design and development of library websites.     

Census 2000 data products

The Internet has changed the way that people look for and obtain statistical information. The Internet will be the primary means by which the Census Bureau releases Census 2000 data, making more data available to the public than ever before. But information also will be available in other media such as print and CD-ROM.     

Census 2000: who says counting is easy as 1-2-3?

The Census Bureau’s originally announced Census 2000 plan called for the use of probability sampling methods to supplement the conventional counting methods of attempts at direct contact with every household in producing the population count. Just how sampling might improve results from counting alone seems to remain unclear to many. The first part of this article shares the lessons learned in a 1997 experience with eleven youth concerning the benefits of using sampling methods to improve counting results. The second part of the paper drawn on a publication (see endnote 4) and gives details of the role of sampling in the Census Bureau’s current Census 2000 plan for producing the population count for purposes other than apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives.     

Determining the contents of the economic censuses

Responsibility for determining the contents of the economic censuses is vested by Title 13 of the United States Code in the Secretary of Commerce, who has delegated this authority to the Director of the Census Bureau. In selecting the questions for the hundreds of industry-specific questionnaires used to conduct the censuses, the Bureau consults with a wide spectrum of representatives of the public and private sectors to ensure that the broad purposes of the censuses are met without undue cost and burden to the business community. Various criteria are used in the content evaluation and review process. The scope of content of the censuses have changed over time and will continue to evolve as the nation's economy changes. The growing importance of service industries and international trade and the loss of administrative statistics from previously regulated industries present new data needs for the 1987 and future censuses.     

Drawing the lines—By the numbers: The statistical foundations of the electoral process

The Constitution establishes that the apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives shall be based upon an enumeration of the population. Every 10 years, the Bureau of the Census conducts that enumeration, and using the Method of Equal Proportions designated by the Congress, furnishes to the President the number of Representatives to which each state is entitled. “Rules of residence” have been developed to determine who should be counted and where persons should be counted in the census.Following the 1970 census, because of the Supreme Court's decisions requiring population equality in districts used for electoral purposes, census data became vital to the redistricting processes carried out by the individual states. The Congress enacted Public Law 94–171 which authorized the Bureau of the Census to make special preparations for the provision of redistricting data needed by the 50 states. The 1980 program established by the Census Bureau enabled state redistricting to be accomplished far more smoothly than in the 1970s. The Census Bureau is already working with the states on its 1990 program, an essential element of which is based upon its plan to provide block data for the entire country.     

Use of astronomical literature—A report on usage patterns

In this paper we present a number of metrics for usage of the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS). Since the ADS is used by the entire astronomical community, these are indicative of how the astronomical literature is used. We will show how the use of the ADS has changed both quantitatively and qualitatively. We will also show that different types of users access the system in different ways. Finally, we show how use of the ADS has evolved over the years in various regions of the world.     

Service Based Enumeration

Our mandate for Census 2000 is to provide an accurate count that is inclusive of all populations. Service Based Enumeration (SBE) is one method that will be used to assure that the Bureau of the Census enumerates people without conventional housing.     

A Web 2.0 Catalog and Document Delivery: Hold this for me at Western Michigan University

This article details the implementation of an electronic request service that allows users to register item requests directly from the OPAC without re-typing the bibliographic information and at no cost. This project supports the overall efforts of the university by furthering the Western Michigan University strategic plan to implement a user-friendly document delivery service. This article describes this innovative and easy way to access a reservation list to retrieve library items by implementing customized web-based management using MySQL and Voyager Oracle? backend. The advantage of a web-based management system is its ease of use and highly customizable features. Some statistics on the number of requests from 2008–2011 are also included.     

Conducting the economic censuses

Conducting the economic censuses successfully requires systematic planning and cooperation among many Census Bureau organizational units in every stage of operation through the final publication of the results. While large companies complete industry-specific questionnaires about their operations, the censuses are conducted more efficiently, at less cost, and with less burden on the small business community by using data from administrative records of other Federal agencies. Due to major improvements in data processing techniques, the results of the latest censuses, which covered calendar year 1982, were released earlier than ever before. For 1987, the Census Bureau plans further improvements in its processing system, with the goal of still earlier release of data.